QUARTERLY Retail Trade reported the largest quarterly employment increase of all industries in Colorado. Employment rose 1.6% over last quarter and added 6873 employees. Seasonal hiring for the Christmas holiday along with a full quarter of employment for new stores at Flatiron Crossing in Boulder County generated an increased employment of 5257 in the General Merchandise (53) sector. Misc Retail (59) was the second largest increasing sector growing by 4287 employees. Within Misc Retail, Misc Shopping Goods Stores reported the largest employment gain rising by 2933, with Sporting Goods Stores & Bicycle Shops generating 1105 employees and Hobby, Toy & Game Shops adding 844. Retail Stores Not Elsewhere Classified added 949 employees with most of its increase due to seasonal hiring for cosmetic type stores. Apparel & Accessories (56) increased by 1794 employees. The bulk of the increase occurred in Family Clothing Stores up 1142. Employment in Eating & Drinking (58) took a large drop falling by 5447. Losses were seasonal resulting from cutbacks at the end of the tourist season and closure of outdoor dining areas. Bldg Materials-Garden (52) seasonally fell by 796 as weather curtailed yard and exterior home projects. ANNUAL Annually, employment in the Retail industry increased 3.8% adding 15,601 employees. This is the largest gain experienced since 1995. Eating & Drinking establishments contributed the largest number of new employees to the industry adding 5591. Growth in Boulder County accounted for 31% of the increase having added 1727 employees. Misc Retail (59) was the second largest employment producing sector rising by 3319. Misc Shopping Goods Stores reported the largest increase up 2166 with its biggest contributor to employment gains in Sporting Goods Stores & Bicycle Shops up 967. Nonstore Retailers was the only subsector within Misc Retail to lose employment dropping by 266 owing to cutbacks in catalog and mail order houses and the closure of a large telemarketer. Nine new department stores contributed to the increase of 3167 in General Merchandise (53). Auto Dealers-Service Stations (55) grew by 1471 employees. The bulk of the employment gain occurred in automobile dealers up 908. The only sector to decline over the year was Food Stores (54) down 298 employees. Losses occurred within Grocery Stores and Misc Food Stores, which cover coffee, water and health food retailers.
Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 2000
